Parent Led Articulation Therapy in Cleft Palate Speech-PLAT
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A comparative study of Parent Led, Therapist Supervised, Articulation Therapy (PLAT) versus standard speech therapy intervention for children with cleft palate speech disorders.
IRAS ID
192488
Contact name
Debbie Sell
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust & The UCL Institute of Child Health
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 30 days
Research summary
About 60% percent of children with repaired cleft palate have speech difficulties that require speech & language therapy in the preschool and/or school aged years. Therapy early on can prevent long-term problems with communication, reading, learning and social skills. In these times of austerity and economic cutbacks, many Irish/UK children are on long waiting lists for therapy and often receive insufficient therapy provision. A non-specialist therapist in cleft palate related speech disorders often delivers therapy. Recently novel approaches to therapy using parent delivered intervention for speech & language delay have been shown to be effective. This study is an 18 month collaborative randomised trial between Trinity College Dublin and GOSH, London UK. It aims to evaluate a parent-training programme for pre-school children with cleft related articulation difficulties supported by a specialist speech & language therapist. In the UK arm children will be recruited from the North Thames Cleft Palate Service. In group 1, the parents will attend a detailed training course on speech production and therapy techniques and two sessions with their child and a cleft specialist speech & language therapist, following which the parent will undertake an individualized therapy programme with their child for a three month period using traditional well-established methods. iPads will be used for regular contact with the therapist through FaceTime. In group 2, parents and children will receive standard care. Outcomes of the two approaches on speech impairment and their impact on the children will be evaluated. The GOSH arm of the trial is funded by CLEFT – Bridging the Gap.
REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/1909
Date of REC Opinion
27 Nov 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion